Ovotransferrin treatment for the reproductive tract

Abstract

A composition and method of maintaining fertility or treating retained placenta, reproductive tract infection, or reproductive tract inflammation in an animal involves administering ovotransferrin to the reproductive tract of the animal. The ovotransferrin administration protects against and treats reproductive tract infection, while protecting against and treating reproductive tract inflammation such as metritis, and thereby maintains fertility in the animal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating and protecting a mammal against infectious metritis comprising administering a composition comprising components including a therapeutically effective amount of ovotransferrin. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of ovotransferrin in the composition is between 0.1% w/w and 10.0% w/w. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of ovotransferrin in the composition is between 1.0% w/w and 5.0% w/w. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of chitosan and  Curcumin.    
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of cephalosporin, penicillin, macrolides, quinolones, oxazolidinones, aminoglycosides, and sulfonamides. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises chitosan and  Curcumin.    
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is selected from the group consisting of garlic, cinnamon, ginger, Roman chamomile,  Echinacea , red clover, goldenseal, Vitex, black pepper and clove. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is turmeric containing  Curcumin.    
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is administered in the reproductive tract of the mammal. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is administered in an infusion having a pH from about 7.5 to about 1.0. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the administering comprises inserting the composition in the form of a solid bolus into the reproductive tract of the mammal. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the solid bolus comprises the ovotransferrin in an amount from about 1 g to about 30 g. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the solid bolus comprises the ovotransferrin in an amount from about 1 g to about 14 g. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  wherein the administering comprises:
 dissolving a solid bolus comprising the ovotransferrin in a solvent to generate the composition in the form of a liquid; and 
 administering the liquid into the uterus of the mammal. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the solid bolus comprises the ovotransferrin in an amount from about 1 g to about 30 g. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  wherein the solid bolus comprises the ovotransferrin in an amount from about 1 g to about 14 g.